UPCOMING COURSES

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Welcome to the Regional Anti-Corruption Academy for Central America and the Caribbean (ARAC)

"Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish. Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government's ability to provide basic services and discouraging foreign aid and investment."

- Kofi Anan, 2004, United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Preventing and combating corruption requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Based on recognition of this fact, Member States negotiated the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which covers five main areas: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement measures, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.

As the sole, legally binding universal instrument against corruption, the Convention holds great potential as a framework for the prevention of, and fight against corruption. Furthermore, as the backbone for national and international anti-corruption initiatives, it promotes the implementation and application of common standards and best-practices.

ARAC was established to promote and develop the capacity of the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, in Central America and the Caribbean; providing technical assistance to States Parties, and facilitating training in the areas of prevention and the fight against corruption.